Botafogo face Corinthians on unbeaten run, chasing top five

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Central do Timão

·29. November 2025

Botafogo face Corinthians on unbeaten run, chasing top five

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians will face Botafogo this Sunday afternoon (30th) at 4 PM (Brasília time) at the Neo Química Arena, in a match valid for the 36th round of the Brazilian Championship. The opposing team comes into the duel in good form in the competition and is seeking a direct spot in the Libertadores group stage.

Botafogo enters Sunday's match occupying the 5th position in the Brasileirão, with 16 wins, ten draws, and nine losses in 35 rounds, totaling 58 points, 13 more than Corinthians, which has 12 wins, nine draws, and 14 losses in 33 games, totaling 45 points, three more than Corinthians, which is in 12th place with 45 points.

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Photo: Vitor Silva/Botafogo.

The Rio de Janeiro opponent comes to the duel with a short list of absences. Confirmed absences for Botafogo include only the right-back, suspended after receiving the third yellow card in the last round, and midfielder Danilo, diagnosed with a left thigh injury.

Thus, a possible lineup for the Glorious includes: Léo Linck; Mateo Ponte, David Ricardo, Barboza, and Cuiabano (Alex Telles); Marlon Freitas, Newton, and Savarino; Artur (Santi Rodríguez), Joaquín Correa, and Arthur Cabral.

Corinthians' opponent arrives at the Neo Química Arena after two consecutive victories in the Brasileirão, against Grêmio and Sport, both by 3 x 2. The Rio team has not been defeated in seven rounds, maintaining four wins and three draws. The last adverse result was in the classic against Flamengo, on October 15, when they were defeated 3 x 0.

Law of the Ex

Today's match has only one candidate for the Law of the Ex: the forward Vitinho, announced as a reinforcement for Corinthians in August 2025.

The current number 29 of Timão was revealed precisely by the Rio club. Since joining Botafogo's youth categories, Vitinho quickly stood out, accumulating individual awards and titles alongside his generation's teammates. His performances caught the attention of the fans, especially after standout displays against Milan and Juventus in the Tirreno and Sport Youth Tournament in Italy, which raised expectations about his future.

However, his debut for the professional team was postponed due to a domestic accident when he fell into a hole. Vitinho finally debuted in the 2013 Carioca Championship and had a special moment by scoring his first professional goal with a volley — a decisive play against Flamengo after coming off the bench. At the end of the competition, he was named the revelation of the tournament.

After good moments in the main squad, the forward received a million-dollar offer from abroad. The offer came amid Botafogo's financial crisis, leading him to give up individual awards that were already considered almost certain by the sports media, such as the revelation and star of the competition awards.

In August, he agreed to transfer to CSKA Moscow, which became the most profitable deal in Botafogo's history, although the negotiation was criticized by fans.

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